HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                      Olympia, Washington

Bill Analysis      Bill No.  HB 1629

Establishing quality management programs.

Brief Title                              Hearing Date: 2/12/99

Reps. Miloscia and Kastama                 Staff: Steve Lundin

Sponsor(s)                          State Government Committee

                                              Phone:  786-7127

BACKGROUND:

The Governor issued Executive Order 97-03 in 1997 requiring all agencies to develop and implement programs to improve the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of public services they provide using quality improvement, business process redesign, employee involvement, and other quality improvement techniques.

Quality improvement plans were required to be submitted to the Governor by no later than July 1, 1997.  Each agency is required to make quarterly reports on its programs.

The Governor=s Council on Service Improvement and Performance was established to advise the Governor on quality improvements.  Membership on the council includes representatives from business, labor, media, and higher education communities, along with members of the Governor=s executive cabinet.

SUMMARY:

Many of the provisions of Executive Order 97-03, relating to quality improvement programs, are placed into statute.  Efforts taken under this statutory program are to be integrated with quality management programs undertaken under an executive order or other authority.

Every state executive agency must develop and implement a quality management program to improve the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of the public services it provides using business process redesign, employee involvement, and other quality management techniques.  Each plan shall:

oDesignate a person who is responsible for improving quality systems and work processes in the agency;

oIdentify immediate-term and near-term opportunities to improve services and reduce costs;

oIdentify goals and use strategic business planning and performance measures to establish priorities and measure progress toward meeting them;

oReport the results of its quality management program on a quarterly basis;

oEvaluate the results of its quality, service, and management improvement programs and assess program effects; and

oDevelop a plan for quality improvement that documents efforts that have  been made.

State executive agencies under the supervision of the Governor report program results quarterly to any subagency group that the Governor has created to monitor management improvement results.  State executive agencies under elected executive officials other than the Governor report program results to this executive official quarterly.

State executive agencies under the supervision of the Governor, other than institutions of higher education, must develop and implement a complete quality management program by June 30, 2001.  All other state executive agencies must develop and implement a complete quality management program by June 30, 2003.

State executive agencies submit successful and high quality management programs to the Governor=s quality achievement award program or equivalent program for potential recognition.

Both houses of the Legislature must develop and implement high quality improvement programs by June 30, 2001, but report the results to the leadership of each major political party caucus in its house.

Local governments are encouraged to develop and implement quality management programs.  On or before June 30, 2002, each local government with an annual budget of $3 million or more in the preceding year must submit to the Office of Financial Management a brief report, not exceeding two pages, summarizing any efforts it has taken.  The Office of Financial Management submits a summary of these reports to the Legislature annually.

FISCAL NOTE:  Not requested.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.